Gift-giving
application
Industry:
Ecommerce / Digital Gifting
Project:
PRSNT
Team:
3 Software developers
1 Project manager
1 Business analyst
1 Data security specialist
Duration of project:
7 months (ongoing)
Country:
United Kingdom
Tech stack:
An UK-based digital gift-giving app offering a unique and convenient way to send curated gifts from top brands directly to recipients via smartphones.
Client value
to end user
Users can send personalized gifts from top brands directly to recipients with features like instant gift delivery, occasion reminders, AR-enhanced messages, and flexible redemption options. Catering to both individual consumers and businesses with its B2B dashboard, it stands out for its innovative approach to traditional gifting, enhanced by loyalty rewards and a strong commitment to data security and GDPR compliance.
Risks
Outsourcing risks
Working with an external software development company introduced risks related to quality control, communication barriers and potential misalignment of project objectives.
Budget overruns
The initial development phase with the offshore team posed a significant risk of going over budget, which could strain financial resources.
Timeline delays
Given the initial underperformance, there was a substantial risk of project delays, which could impact market entry timing and overall strategy.
Challenges
Substandard outsourced work
The work delivered by the initial offshore developer was underwhelming, leading to setbacks in the project.
Unfinished MVP
The need to reverse-engineer and refactor the MVP presented a complex challenge, requiring a thorough understanding of the existing code and its flaws.
New features integration
Balancing the integration of innovative features like AR filters with user-friendly design and functionality.
Development Phases
Managed high development costs, resolved offshore team quality issues, established technical and business foundations for future growth, and assessed market response to the basic app version.
Revamped the app by conducting a comprehensive audit, upgrading technology, improving security and GDPR compliance, refactoring code for better performance, implementing a scalable microservices architecture, and fostering efficient development processes and modular design for future enhancements.
Improved core functionality, streamlined gift selection and redemption, overhauled the user interface, and prepared for a broader market release with options for gift redemption, reminder systems, user testing, and value proposition enhancement.
Implemented cutting-edge AR for personalized video messages, added networking features for sharing and virality, explored innovative gifting options, expanded the gift catalog and retail partnerships, enhanced emotional and social aspects of gifting, and developed features for diverse user segments, including corporate clients.
Launched a loyalty program for user retention, introduced a B2B dashboard for corporate gifting, and implemented targeted marketing for app launch and user acquisition. Won awards for Best Mobile App for 2021 and regional business recognition, demonstrated app success through user growth and engagement metrics, and secured additional funding rounds based on market success.
Performance & Optimization
Converter optimization: To optimize efficiency and resource usage, the team worked on improving the efficiency of the currency converter, streamlining communication protocols, and optimizing payment processing to reduce delays.
UX features: A tutorial was implemented at the beginning of the application to assist users in understanding how to use the app effectively, improving usability for new users.
Automation: It was leveraged for unit testing, integration testing, and regression testing — identifying and addressing bugs early in the development process, reducing testing costs and improving overall software quality.
Results
Effective project management
30%
more features
Despite the constraints of the original timeline and budget, additional features, including a complex new model not initially planned, were successfully delivered
Awards
2021
best mobile app
Prsnt would also go on to feature in The Guardian and Forbes, two of the world’s leading news outlets, garnering stellar user ratings in the Apple App store and Google Play store and win awards for Best Mobile App.
Market positioning
#1
gifting app
Established as a leading app in the UK’s gifting sector, known for its innovation and user-friendly experience.
Lessons
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